Tarptent Protrail

The Tarptent Protrail has been a reliable shelter for me while hiking on the Pacific Northwest Trail, wilderness canoeing, and other backpacking trips. I set it up with trekking poles while backpacking and while wilderness canoeing I use the pole set that can be purchased separately. In general, I have enjoyed its simple set up, but it does take some strategy in wind and locations where it is challenging to place stakes. I have only had it partially collapse on me once because a deer yanked the trekking pole that was keeping the foot portion up. Luckily the deer did not succeed in making off with the pole, and I was able to replace it easily without having to repitch the whole tent. The only other failure I’ve had was the zipper, which had to be repaired after about 40 nights on trail, but I likely put undue stress on it while frantically trying to escape mosquitoes leading up to the failure. I am more careful now and have not had additional issues.

In extreme rain I’ll sometimes get blanketed by a very fine mist, but overall it has not leaked. I’ve generally been able to manage condensation by being thoughtful with choosing camping spots, in how I pack up in the morning, and by taking opportunities to dry it out midday if needed. I have slept snuggly in it below freezing but never in heavy snow. It can sometimes get stuffy in hot conditions because of the limited mesh, but I have generally found that I can get decent airflow in all but the most humid and still conditions.

I am 5’8’’ and sometimes wish that there was a little more head room while sitting up, but the floor space is more than adequate. I especially appreciate the length which allows me to stretch out and still have room to have some gear inside, usually pushed down at the end past my feet. The living space (ample) versus the space it takes up in my pack (minimal) is a main selling point for me, even if having the door at the end makes it a bit harder to crawl in and out.